[Trombone-l] Blazhevich Clef Studies

Thu Aug 3 09:25:56 CDT 2006

I'm not sure there is much benefit in going through worst case scenarios
that you are unlikely to see, given that practice time is finite and there
are nasty scenarios out there that you are sure to see.

This probably also applies to exercises in 12 keys.  Realistically 3 or 4 is
all you will play for most styles.  Doing the other eight feels like paying
dues, but probably the benefits are not worth the time.  

It is interesting that in piano there is a large school of thought that says
exercises are useless.  Technique should be learned solely through the
repertoire.  Technique learned through the old standards (Hanon, et al) is
subtly different and most of the time spent on it is wasted, when you could
be playing music and getting the same or better results.

Of course piano has such a large body of literature you can easily find a
series of progressively more difficult pieces to answer any need.  Trombone
may not have that advantage.  But some of what we do may not be productive.
If I do lip slurs in all 7 positions, knowing I will never use more than 3
of them, is that the best use of what time I have?  Not sure.  

-----Original Message-----
From: JENKINS,JOHN J [mailto:posaune at ufl.edu] 
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 19:59
To: Chris Waage; trombone-l at samford.edu
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Blazhevich Clef Studies

I like how the Blazehvich book gives you a rigorous workout (mentally and
physically) and gets you prepared for a "worst case scenario", but the
problem is that there ISN'T a worst case scenario in most literature (i.e.,
there aren't excessive/frequent transitions into all 3 clefs), which leads
me to feel that the Blazehvich book is highly useful, but not necessarily a
necessity. 
There are many other books that would be just as useful.

John Jenkins
University of Florida
Grad Teaching Assistant
M.M. Trombone Performance Candidate
118 MUB P.O. Box 117900
Gainesville, Fl 32611-7900
352-745-8185
posaune at ufl.edu